Dave Barrett: A bold premier for a bold era

February 2, 2018 | News Release

Vancouver – The labour movement is marking the life of BC’s first NDP Premier Dave Barrett, a friend of working people, and a politician who had a profound impact on our province, says BC Federation of Labour President Irene Lanzinger.

BC’s 26th premier, Barrett led a reform-minded government that implemented a long list of measures between 1972 and 1975. Among these were a new labour code and a Labour Relations Board that fundamentally altered relationships between unions and employers that had all too often ended up in the courts.

BCFed President Irene Lanzinger

Other lasting accomplishments include the Agricultural Land Reserve, ICBC, and the BC Ambulance Service. Legislation passed by the NDP at the time also made it possible for government employees to join a union.

“He was a bold premier for a bold era. Barrett’s government marked a political coming of age for our province,” says Lanzinger. “His term as leader of BC certainly wasn’t a long time, but it surely was a good time to make BC a better place for working people.”